‘Landman’ Star, 49, Hits Back at Critics For “Not Being Comfortable” Watching Taylor Sheridan’s Oil Drama

Landman may be another gritty, dare we say trashy, addition to the Taylor Sheridan universe — but this time, it’s not the plot or the politics stirring debate. It’s the women. While the oil field drama has racked up solid viewership and is already headed toward Season 2 — in production now — some critics and fans have taken issue with the way female characters are portrayed, calling them overly sexualized or one-dimensional. But Landman star Ali Larter, 49, isn’t buying it. And she’s not staying quiet.

“Nobody’s putting me in a position that I’m not comfortable being in,” Larter told The Hollywood Reporter. “I love playing this character. If there was something I was uncomfortable with, I wouldn’t do it. What’s more uncomfortable is that people are so uncomfortable by their sexuality.”

Larter plays Angela Norris, the glamorous wife of Billy Bob Thornton’s character, Tommy — a woman often seen sipping cocktails in a swimsuit, sure, but also someone carrying emotional weight behind her designer sunglasses. According to Larter, that layered complexity is being missed by those too focused on the surface.

While some critics have written Angela off as shallow or ornamental, Larter sees her very differently. Yes, Angela has flash — but underneath the luxury lies a woman struggling to hold her family together, grappling with aging, and finding purpose in unlikely places. One storyline even shows her visiting a nursing home to lift the spirits of the residents.

“You see her crumbling trying to keep her family together. You see her battling and feeling like she’s getting older… It’s very multi-dimensional, and that’s why it doesn’t bother me.”

Taylor Sheridan’s History with Women On-Screen

Sheridan, whose résumé includes Yellowstone, Sicario, Those Who Wish Me Dead, and 1923 — all projects which have featured strong female characters has long faced criticism for how he writes women. Some fans still point to moments like the strip poker scene in Yellowstone as examples of objectification, while others argue Sheridan gives women some of the most dynamic, powerful roles on TV — including Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren). Larter, for one, sees Sheridan’s record as proof that he does write well-rounded women — especially those “in their prime.” She recently told reporters: